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Dr Gérald Kierzek (Medical Director of Doctissimo)
In winter, with the switching on of certain heating appliances, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is not negligible. It is therefore useful, even recommended, to equip yourself with a detector. Where to install it in your home? Here is the advice of Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of Doctissimo.
Each year, around 1,300 episodes of CO poisoning occurring by accident and involving nearly 3,000 people are reported to the health authorities. These figures sometimes increase in certain regions, as was the case last year in the Grand Est region, where the Regional Health Agency (ARS) reports 32 more people poisoned last winter, compared to the year before.
Install a carbon monoxide detector
To combat the scourge of carbon monoxide poisoning, which is on the rise in the region, the ARS Grand Est is launching a prevention campaign to encourage the general public to be wary of carbon monoxide.
This gas, colorless and odorless, is diffused from poorly maintained boilers in poorly ventilated premises. Initially causing a feeling of discomfort, with nausea and vomiting, it can be fatal.
To avoid this type of accident, Dr Gérald Kierzek, emergency doctor and medical director of Doctissimo, advises investing in a detector. “There are combined carbon monoxide detectors, which can detect both smoke and CO” explains the doctor. “But usually these are two small devices to be purchased separately”.
Where to install your detector at home?
Once purchased, the carbon monoxide detector must be installed. “Unlike the smoke detector, which is fixed to the ceiling and rather in a corridor, towards the bedrooms, to wake people in the event of a fire at night, the carbon monoxide detector should rather be installed in a kitchen near the boiler or not very far from the home heating appliance” adds Gérald Kierzek.
And it should not be installed on the ceiling. “Because if the smoke rises for reasons of density – it is lighter than air – the carbon monoxide stagnates at eye level. We therefore do not attach it to the ceiling” adds the doctor.
To limit the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning at home, you should:
- to systematically have heating and hot water production installations and smoke ducts checked and maintained by a qualified professional before each winter;
- to ventilate for at least ten minutes every day, to keep ventilation systems in good working order and never to block air inlets and outlets;
- to respect the instructions for using combustion appliances and never to operate auxiliary heaters continuously;
- to absolutely place generators outside buildings
- never use appliances not intended for this purpose for heating: stove, brazier, barbecue, etc.
If ever while using a heating or cooking appliance you have a headache, want to vomit, or if you feel unwell, this may be a sign that carbon monoxide is present. carbon in your home. In this case :
- Open windows and doors immediately,
- Turn off heating and cooking appliances,
- Go out.
Inform the emergency services by dialing 15, 18 (or 114 for the hearing impaired).